I have already read his letter.
Indefinite time in the past - we dont say WHEN something happened
Ive never been to Italy.
Ive lost my keys. (I cant find them now)
To talk about peoples lives until now
When something that happened in the past has a result now
POSITIVE (have/has + past participle) I/you/we/they have/ve worked He/she/it has/s worked NEGATIVE I/you/we/they He/she/it
have not/havent worked has not/hasnt worked
QUESTION Have I/you/we/they worked Has he/she/it worked
Which
of these adverbs do we use with present perfect / past simple: never last week already yesterday ago ever today for since just yet so far this week lately in 2003
1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
6. 7.
Would you like something to eat? No thanks. (I / just / have / lunch). Do you know where Julia is? Yes, (I / just / see / her). What time is David leaving? (He /already / leave). Whats in the newspaper today? I dont know. (I / not / read / it yet). Is Sue coming to the cinema with us? No, (she / already/ see /the film) Are your friends here yet? Yes, (they / just / arrive). What does Tom think about your plan? (We / not / tell / him yet)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
I (lose) my key. I cant find it anywhere. (you / eat) a lot of sweets when you were a child? I (buy) a new car. You must come and see it. Where (you / be) yesterday evening? Lucy (leave) school in 1999. Im looking for Mike. (you / see) him? Im very hungry. I (not / eat) much today. When (this book / be) published? When I (get) home last night, I (be) very tired and I (go) straight to bed. (you / finish) painting the bedroom? Not yet, Ill finish it tomorrow. I dont know Carols husband. I (never / meet) him.
It has been raining for two hours. How long have you been working there?
for an activity that started in the past and continues into the present (with how long, for and since)
Debbie is a very good tennis player. Shes been playing since she was eight.
for actions repeated over a period of time
Where have you been? Ive been looking for you everywhere.
for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped
Its been raining for hours. They havent been playing long. Has he been studying all day? have /ve has /s havent hasnt
POSITIVE
I/you/we/they he/she/it I/you/we/they he/she/it Have Has
been been been been
doing doing doing doing
NEGATIVE
QUESTION
I/you/we/they he/she/it
been been
doing doing
1. 2. 3.
4.
5.
We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago. We __________________ for 20 minutes. Im learning Spanish. I started classes in December. I ________________________ since December. Mary is working in London. She started working there on 18th January. Mary _______________________ since 18th January. A friend of yours is now working in a shop. You want to know how long. You ask: How long ______________ there? You have just arrived to meet a friend who is waiting for you. You ask __________________ long?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Everything is going well. We didnt have/havent had any problems so far. Lisa didnt go/hasnt gone to work yesterday. Look! That man over there wears/is wearing the same sweater as you. Your son is much taller than when I last saw him. He grew/has grown a lot. I still dont know what to do. I didnt decide/havent decided yet. Jane had a book open in front of her, but she didnt read/wasnt reading it. I wasnt very busy. I didnt have/wasnt having much to do. After leaving school, Tim got/has got his first job in a factory. When Sue heard the news, she wasnt/hasnt been very pleased. I need a new job. Im doing/Ive been doing the same job for too long. Anna has gone out. What time did she go/has she gone? You look tired. Yes, Ive played/Ive been playing basketball. Where are you coming/do you come from? Are you American? Robert and Maria have been married since 20 years/for 20 years.